BY JAMIE HAZEL
Sports Editor
With a dominant performance from the defense on the road, the Knights football team ended South Brunswick’s undefeated start to the season with a 21-6 victory on September 20. The team now sits at 2-2 with a match up against East Brunswick ahead this Friday.
South Brunswick returned the kickoff for a touchdown on the very first play of the game, missed their extra point attempt, and did not see the endzone for the rest of the 90-minute game. “We didn’t let that define the game,” said senior Zamhir Evans, who had 14 total tackles, six tackles for a loss, and a sack. “It’s all a mentality; if you want to win, your gonna go win.”
The defense has made an impact throughout the season, and especially showed off this game. “Our defense has been able to stay to our assignments and remain disciplined all season so far, giving us the best opportunity to win,” shared junior Justin Valinotti, who dished out 13 total tackles, including two for a loss, in the win.
Evans provides senior leadership for a defense composed mostly of underclassmen who understand that they need to work together to compliment the offense. “The key was knowing our responsibilities and doing what’s expected of us,” said Evans. “As long as we all worked as a team, it made it easy, and everything fell in place.”
Junior quarterback Brody Nugent, who already has eight passing touchdowns and rushing touchdowns this season, led the offense with 11 completions, his season high. Freshman Amari Alsbrook and senior Jaden Griffith each caught touchdowns against South Brunswick. “It was a big win for us taking down an undefeated team and a good way to get us rolling,” said Nugent, who had more rushing yards than the entire South Brunswick team had total yards.
Alsbrook, making a name for himself only as a freshman, got his first high school touchdown. With only minutes until halftime, Coach Matthew Donaghue called a timeout and informed his team that Alsbrook would be on the receiving end of this important play. “I tried to prepare myself for the moment, and when the play was called, it went perfectly,” explained Alsbrook.
Leading up to this big win, the boys had already encountered success. They opened their season with a close game against Woodbridge on September 29 but lost 36-34, a much closer game than last year’s 28-13 defeat. Woodbridge remains undefeated, so when the Knights came so close to destroying that, it displayed the growth of the program. “We also worked hard all summer and have been working together as a team and it’s helped us tremendously,” said Nugent, who had five touchdowns against Woodbridge.
On September 7, they won 35-13 against Edison. Another freshman, Aidan Rios, made himself an offensive target and had a touchdown this game, and junior Xavier Diaz contributed with an interception. Valinotti hit his season high in solo tackles with 11. “The most memorable highlight from that game for me was when defensive end, Zahmir Evans, and I were able to sack the quarterback on a blitz,” said Valinotti. “This was a clutch play due to it being a long third down in the 3rd quarter.”
On September 13, Piscataway barely won the 22-21 game on the Knights’ turf. Old Bridge had 83 rushing yards in comparison to Piscataway’s 73, so in some aspects, the game was a win. Last year, the game concluded 28-7 Piscataway. “We were a young team last year, but now we are all developed as players and understand the game,” said Nugent.
The boys next play tomorrow, September 27, at home against East Brunswick at 7pm. Be there, wear neon, and be loud!
Posted on 9/26/24
Photos by Sam Prado Roberts
Knight Life 